Ling 001 Fall 2004

Ling 001 Fall 2004

Instructor: David Embick embick@ling.upenn.edu 601 Williams Hall Office Hour: Wednesday, 3pm Lecture: Mon/Wed 12-1, Vance Hall B11 Webpage: www.ling.upenn.edu/courses/Fall_2004/Ling001	TAs and recitations: Damien Hall: halldj@ling.upenn.edu Marjorie Pak: mpak@ling.upenn.edu Sandhya Sundaresan: ssundare@ling.upenn.edu `NUM DAY TIME ROOM TA 201 F 11-12 Vance B10 Hall 202 F 12-1 Williams 1 Hall 203 F 12-1 Williams 23 Pak 204 R 3-4 DRL 3C6 Sundaresan 205 R 3-4 EDUC 200 Pak 206 R 4-5 DRL 3C6 Sundaresan`

Announcements:

The final exam will take place on Thursday, December 16, from 8:30 to 10:30 am, in DRLB A1. (exam schedule)
Office hours have been scheduled as follows:

Embick: Tues. 12/14 11:00 am-1:00 pm Williams 601 Pak: Tues. 12/14 2:30 pm-4:30 pm Williams 401/402 Sundaresan: Tues. 12/14 5:00 pm-7:00 pm Williams 401/402 Hall: Wed. 12/15 9:00 am-11:00 am Williams 401/402

General course information

Schedule

Week 1

Sep. 8 Introductory Notions. The scientific study of language. [lecture slides]

Week 2

Sep. 13
Sep. 15 Grammar. Descriptive vs. prescriptive. [lecture slides]
Language as an Instinct. [lecture slides] [homework 1]
[answers]

READING: Language Instinct (LI) Chapters 1-2, 12; Bulkpack (BP): Aitchison (2001, "The ever-whirling wheel"), Odlin (1994)
Week 3: Sound and Sound Structure
Sep. 20
Sep. 22 Sounds of Language. [lecture slides]
Structure of sound. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 1 DUE [homework 2]
[answers]

READING: LI Chapter 6; McMahon (2002)

Week 4: Structure of words

Sep. 27
Sep. 29 Word structure. [lecture slides]
Knowledge of words. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 2 DUE [homework 3]
[answers]

READING: LI Chapter 5

Week 5: Structure of sentences

Oct. 4
Oct. 6 Sentence structure. [lecture slides]
Generative syntax. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 3 DUE [homework 4]
[answers]

READING: LI Chapter 4; Ling 150 Webtext Chapters 1-2; BP: Akmajian et al. (2001)

Week 6: Semantics and interpretation

Oct. 11
Oct. 13 Understanding language. [lecture slides]
Language and logic. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 4 DUE

READING: LI Chapter 7; BP: Partee (1995)

Week 7: Languages

Oct. 18
Oct. 20 Languages of the world. [lecture slides]
Complex structures. [lecture slides] [homework 5]
[answers]

READING: LI Chapter 8

Week 8: Pragmatics - Language and meaning in context

Oct. 25
Oct. 27
Oct. 29 NO CLASS: FALL BREAK
Language in context. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 5 DUE
Midterm exam review session (4:00 pm, Vance Hall B11)

Week 9: Introduction to other facets of language

Nov. 1
Nov. 3 MIDTERM EXAMINATION [answers]
Acquisition: learning to speak [lecture slides]

READING: LI Chapter 9
Week 10: Language and Brain

Nov. 8
Nov. 10 Introduction: Studying language and the brain [lecture slides]
Imaging: Syntax [lecture slides] [homework 6]
[answers]

READING: LI Chapter 10; BP: Kaan and Swaab (2002).
Week 11

Nov. 15
Nov. 17 Imaging: Sound. [lecture slides]
Aphasia and deficit studies. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 6 DUE [homework 7]
[answers]

READING: LI Chapter 10 (cont.); BP: Obler and Gjerlow (1999)

Week 12: Variation and History

Nov. 22
Nov. 24 Linguistic history. [lecture slides]
Linguistic variation. [lecture slides]

READING: BP: Ringe (1999)

Week 13: Reading and writing

Nov. 29
Dec. 1 Writing language. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 7 DUE
Reading and writing. [lecture slides] [homework 8]
[answers]

READING: BP: Crystal (1987); Liberman and Liberman (1992)

Week 14: Animal communication and evolution

Dec. 6
Dec. 8 Animal communication. [lecture slides]
LAST CLASS. Evolution of language. Conclusions. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 8 DUE

READING: LI Chapter 11; BP: Shettleworth, Lewontin

General information

Description: Ling 001 is a general introduction to the scientific study of language structure, history, and use. Topics include notions of "grammar"; written versus spoken (and signed) language; the structure of sounds, words, sentences, and meanings; language in culture and society; language change over time; language acquisition and processing; comparison with non-human communication systems. It is appropriate for any Penn undergraduate interested in language or its use.
The course has no prerequisites, and satisfies the General Requirement in Living World (Sector V). Although accessible to a general audience, Ling 001 is also recommended as an introduction for students considering a major or minor in linguistics.

Readings: There is one required textbook, available at the Penn Bookstore (at the corner of 36th and Walnut Streets): The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language, by Steven Pinker, c. 1994, Perennial Classics edition published 2000. There is also a bulkpack of required readings with supplemental readings; it is available in the IKON Copy Center, which is located in Levine Hall.

Requirements: You are expected to do the assigned readings and regularly attend lectures and recitations, since these are necessary for you to understand the material tested by written work. There are three kinds of assignments that will be graded:

Homework: There will be frequent homework assignments (distributed most Wednesdays, due the following Wednesday in class); they give practice in applying the principles studied in class and in analyzing particular linguistic phenomena. Normally the materials will only be available on the web, from the links on the course schedule. They are graded on a scale of 0-10.

Late assignments will be penalized, and will no longer be accepted once the answer sheet has been posted. Since there are recitations on Thursday at 3 pm, that is generally the latest that assignments will be accepted, even with penalty. Make-up assignments will be provided only for students with proof of a medical or personal emergency.

There will not be any extra credit assignments; instead, your lowest homework grade will automatically be dropped at the end of the semester, and will not figure in the calculation of your final grade (one and only one zero for a homework that you do not turn in will be dropped- but only one zero will be dropped, and all of the other homeworks will count).

The following specific rules on homework will apply to all assignments:

Your assignment is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, 12 noon. It's your job to leave enough time to deal with any printing or other technical glitches that may arise.
Email submissions are NOT accepted unless you have prior permission due to illness or other extenuating circumstances. Make arrangements through your TA, and (upon approval) email it directly to him or her.
Assignments that are submitted after the end of class, or that are emailed after 12 noon on Wednesday, will be penalized one point. Assignments that arrive after midnight on Wednesday will be penalized two points. No late assignments will be accepted after 3pm on Thursday, because that is when answer sheets will be posted.
Recall also that makeup assignments are not provided except in the case of a documented medical or personal emergency.
Turn in your homeworks to your own TA at the beginning of class. Always include your recitation section (201-206) on your assignment. Assignments without a section number will be penalized 1 point.
It is ok for you to work in groups or discuss homework questions with other students, but you must turn in your own separate effort (i.e. no joint homeworks can be turned in).

Midterm: An in-class midterm exam on Monday, November 1 will test knowledge of basic facts and concepts covered in the first half of the course (weeks 1-8). It will take the form of multiple-choice, matching, and short-answer questions requiring you to explain or illustrate a particular concept in linguistics.

Final: A comprehensive final exam will cover material from the entire course, with more emphasis on the second half (since it was not included on the midterm). It will take place on Thursday, December 16, from 8:30 to 10:30, in DRLB A1. (exam schedule) Like the midterm, it will consist of multiple-choice, matching, and short-answer questions.

Grading: The final grade for the course will be determined as follows.
Homework assignments: 40%
Midterm exam: 20%
Final exam: 40%
While attendance and participation are not a formal part of the grade, regular attendance in recitation sections (especially with an active role in discussions) will affect whether your grade is rounded up to the next higher level in borderline cases.

page maintained by Marjorie Pak

Week 1
Sep. 8	Introductory Notions. The scientific study of language. [lecture slides]
Week 2
Sep. 13 Sep. 15	Grammar. Descriptive vs. prescriptive. [lecture slides] Language as an Instinct. [lecture slides]	[homework 1] [answers]
READING: Language Instinct (LI) Chapters 1-2, 12; Bulkpack (BP): Aitchison (2001, "The ever-whirling wheel"), Odlin (1994)
Week 3: Sound and Sound Structure
Sep. 20 Sep. 22	Sounds of Language. [lecture slides] Structure of sound. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 1 DUE	[homework 2] [answers]
READING: LI Chapter 6; McMahon (2002)
Week 4: Structure of words
Sep. 27 Sep. 29	Word structure. [lecture slides] Knowledge of words. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 2 DUE	[homework 3] [answers]
READING: LI Chapter 5
Week 5: Structure of sentences
Oct. 4 Oct. 6	Sentence structure. [lecture slides] Generative syntax. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 3 DUE	[homework 4] [answers]
READING: LI Chapter 4; Ling 150 Webtext Chapters 1-2; BP: Akmajian et al. (2001)
Week 6: Semantics and interpretation
Oct. 11 Oct. 13	Understanding language. [lecture slides] Language and logic. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 4 DUE
READING: LI Chapter 7; BP: Partee (1995)
Week 7: Languages
Oct. 18 Oct. 20	Languages of the world. [lecture slides] Complex structures. [lecture slides]	[homework 5] [answers]
READING: LI Chapter 8
Week 8: Pragmatics - Language and meaning in context
Oct. 25 Oct. 27 Oct. 29	NO CLASS: FALL BREAK Language in context. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 5 DUE Midterm exam review session (4:00 pm, Vance Hall B11)
Week 9: Introduction to other facets of language
Nov. 1 Nov. 3	MIDTERM EXAMINATION [answers] Acquisition: learning to speak [lecture slides]
READING: LI Chapter 9
Week 10: Language and Brain
Nov. 8 Nov. 10	Introduction: Studying language and the brain [lecture slides] Imaging: Syntax [lecture slides]	[homework 6] [answers]
READING: LI Chapter 10; BP: Kaan and Swaab (2002).
Week 11
Nov. 15 Nov. 17	Imaging: Sound. [lecture slides] Aphasia and deficit studies. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 6 DUE	[homework 7] [answers]
READING: LI Chapter 10 (cont.); BP: Obler and Gjerlow (1999)
Week 12: Variation and History
Nov. 22 Nov. 24	Linguistic history. [lecture slides] Linguistic variation. [lecture slides]
READING: BP: Ringe (1999)
Week 13: Reading and writing
Nov. 29 Dec. 1	Writing language. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 7 DUE Reading and writing. [lecture slides]	[homework 8] [answers]
READING: BP: Crystal (1987); Liberman and Liberman (1992)
Week 14: Animal communication and evolution
Dec. 6 Dec. 8	Animal communication. [lecture slides] LAST CLASS. Evolution of language. Conclusions. [lecture slides] HOMEWORK 8 DUE
READING: LI Chapter 11; BP: Shettleworth, Lewontin

Description:	Ling 001 is a general introduction to the scientific study of language structure, history, and use. Topics include notions of "grammar"; written versus spoken (and signed) language; the structure of sounds, words, sentences, and meanings; language in culture and society; language change over time; language acquisition and processing; comparison with non-human communication systems. It is appropriate for any Penn undergraduate interested in language or its use. The course has no prerequisites, and satisfies the General Requirement in Living World (Sector V). Although accessible to a general audience, Ling 001 is also recommended as an introduction for students considering a major or minor in linguistics.
Readings:	There is one required textbook, available at the Penn Bookstore (at the corner of 36th and Walnut Streets): The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language, by Steven Pinker, c. 1994, Perennial Classics edition published 2000. There is also a bulkpack of required readings with supplemental readings; it is available in the IKON Copy Center, which is located in Levine Hall.
Requirements:	You are expected to do the assigned readings and regularly attend lectures and recitations, since these are necessary for you to understand the material tested by written work. There are three kinds of assignments that will be graded: Homework: There will be frequent homework assignments (distributed most Wednesdays, due the following Wednesday in class); they give practice in applying the principles studied in class and in analyzing particular linguistic phenomena. Normally the materials will only be available on the web, from the links on the course schedule. They are graded on a scale of 0-10. Late assignments will be penalized, and will no longer be accepted once the answer sheet has been posted. Since there are recitations on Thursday at 3 pm, that is generally the latest that assignments will be accepted, even with penalty. Make-up assignments will be provided only for students with proof of a medical or personal emergency. There will not be any extra credit assignments; instead, your lowest homework grade will automatically be dropped at the end of the semester, and will not figure in the calculation of your final grade (one and only one zero for a homework that you do not turn in will be dropped- but only one zero will be dropped, and all of the other homeworks will count). The following specific rules on homework will apply to all assignments: Your assignment is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, 12 noon. It's your job to leave enough time to deal with any printing or other technical glitches that may arise. Email submissions are NOT accepted unless you have prior permission due to illness or other extenuating circumstances. Make arrangements through your TA, and (upon approval) email it directly to him or her. Assignments that are submitted after the end of class, or that are emailed after 12 noon on Wednesday, will be penalized one point. Assignments that arrive after midnight on Wednesday will be penalized two points. No late assignments will be accepted after 3pm on Thursday, because that is when answer sheets will be posted. Recall also that makeup assignments are not provided except in the case of a documented medical or personal emergency. Turn in your homeworks to your own TA at the beginning of class. Always include your recitation section (201-206) on your assignment. Assignments without a section number will be penalized 1 point. It is ok for you to work in groups or discuss homework questions with other students, but you must turn in your own separate effort (i.e. no joint homeworks can be turned in). Midterm: An in-class midterm exam on Monday, November 1 will test knowledge of basic facts and concepts covered in the first half of the course (weeks 1-8). It will take the form of multiple-choice, matching, and short-answer questions requiring you to explain or illustrate a particular concept in linguistics. Final: A comprehensive final exam will cover material from the entire course, with more emphasis on the second half (since it was not included on the midterm). It will take place on Thursday, December 16, from 8:30 to 10:30, in DRLB A1. (exam schedule) Like the midterm, it will consist of multiple-choice, matching, and short-answer questions.
Grading:	The final grade for the course will be determined as follows. Homework assignments: 40% Midterm exam: 20% Final exam: 40% While attendance and participation are not a formal part of the grade, regular attendance in recitation sections (especially with an active role in discussions) will affect whether your grade is rounded up to the next higher level in borderline cases.